But the shepherds, seeing the cap, at once whistled to their dog, and the one who spoke Persian explained that if it were shown the cap it would take up the track of the child at once.
But though they whistled and whistled no dog came.
Then the shepherds began to look grave and mutter among themselves.
"What are they saying?
What gibberish are they talking ?" shrilled poor Head-nurse, trying to keep hope alive by being angry.

The man who spoke Persian looked at her cheerfully.
"Only that perhaps the dog has eaten the child.

We keep it hungry that it may chase the wild animals." This was too much for the womankind.

They simply rent the air with heartbroken sobs.
But Foster-father, grave and silent, would not give up hope.

Every foot of the ravine must be searched, first downwards, as, had the child really fallen into the stream it must have been carried with it.